Merged: 7.30 Report, Pilot's shortage (03 April 08)

[max autobrakes]

Manning ,what a popular chap!
His own pilots don't care much for him, he alienated the Impulse boys when he was AIPA president and now he's well and truely pissed off the Eastern pilots, who's left?

[tenfouroldmate]

The arrogance is truely unbelievable

Grogmonster...

I hope you were just after a reaction when you submitted your post. If not...

...people like you who get Mummy & Daddy to pay for you to learn to fly...

Try to understand that not every pilot has their mummy and daddy looking out for them. Some of us don't have that luxury and have earned our own CPL (or even a PPL for that matter) for which we paid every cent from our own pocket.

Secondly, we do not need to be told how difficult it is to run a business. You're no Marco Polo there sunshine.

I was horrified to read your post and believe that if you have such negativity toward this site, DON"T BOTHER LOGGING IN. From all I have read at pprune and from my own experience in the aviation industry, it appears to me that the folks that are here all have a justified point of view, even if I don't always agree.

If there are complaints about such things as poor salaries for example, that's because some pilots are today being paid less than $30K to fly a twin turboprop. AFTER forking out $60K + to get the licence to be there. FACT.

And no, they shouldn't have to piss off if they don't like it.

[romeocharlie]

Every single flying job I've had, bar the current one, I've had to have another job in bar/restaurant just to supplement the income to afford to live. I also worked 3 jobs just to pay for a majority of my flying, and have a very friendly bank manager who 'lent' me the rest (now hexable apparently). I'm aware how difficult it is to run an aviation business, but as far as becoming aircrew is concerned - my situation is APPALLINGLY COMMON. The fact also remains that the minimum wage for quite a number of aircrew jobs is actually below the poverty line in Australia. That according to me is not being 'overpaid.'

Gets off soapbox
RC

Has anyone sent the link to this forum to ABC?

[bushy]

Fools

Wages are so low because they can find fools to do it for so little.
Anyone who flies a twin turboprop for less than $30,000 PA is VERY foolish, and is doing enormous harm to the industry. I earned $43,000 for flying a twin turboprop in 1992.
I think many do it because they think they will get into a big shiny jet next year. Those who have not got some sort of committment from an airline should think hard and long about what they are doing. It has been stated that the airlines only accept one in every hundred applicants.
So you should only accept jobs that are properly paid, and consider it long term. If you do otherwise, then blame yourself, and don't complain, because you are adding to the problem.

[romeocharlie]

I realise that 43K back in 92 was a lot of money, but the STANDARD rate of pay in Cairns alone is very similar and isn't a great deal of money. You can earn triple the award driving truck unqualified in a mine if you'd like (this is the choice). I personally am very happy with what I am currently paid, but if I'd said can I please have the award wage back when working on a station was considered a privileged job, the owner would have told me where to go.... This wasn't directed at you bushy either. The award rate for a graduate architect is quite poor too. As was said, it's a choice, you can either accept getting paid peanuts or not have a job. Bills still need to get paid.

[max autobrakes]

I heard that in NZ when the pilots at AIR NEW ZEALAND let slip to the media during pay negotiations that a number of their pilots were on Special Assistance payments from the government in order to make ends meet, the company was that embarrassed they backed down.

I wonder if any pilots in Australia can access something similar?
here's a link that might help
http://myaccount.centrelink.gov.au/w...5odG0!#7_0_7OQ

[Knulp]

$65-70k for 733 FO in '89?

[blow.n.gasket]

And what was that as a multiple of the average wage back then as opposed to what an F/O earns today Vs the average wage?

[tinpis]

Mug punter was on $25k in 1989....so ...roughly a third ...which would mean $210k for an EFFO today and $75k for punters

[max autobrakes]

God I love progress!